Communicating with Students to Increase Academic Success

Nichole Hobbs, School Psychologist/Liaison PGSMHI Tawana Doggett, Mental Health Clinician

May 18, 2009

PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org

Prince Georges County Board of Education

Verjeana M. Jacobs, Esq., Chair Ron L. Watson, Jr., Ph.D., Vice Chair Donna Hathaway Beck Pat J. Fletcher Heather Iliff R. Owen Johnson, Jr. Rosalind A. Johnson Linda Thornton Thomas Amber P. Waller Haywood L. Perry, III, Student Member WILLIAM R. HITE, JR., ED.D. Superintendent

PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org

Purpose, Process, Payoff

Purpose: Provide professional development to school staff by the PGSMHI

Process: Presentation will be delivered to the school staff at Isaac Gourdine Middle School during teacher planning time throughout the month of May.
Payoff: To provide information to ensure that all employees are effective and students environments are conducive to learning

PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org

Workshop Outline

Introduction & Icebreaker Definition Types of Communication Ways to Communicate Positively How to Communicate During Conflicts How to Avoid Negative Communication Communication Builders Discussion/ Questions?
PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org

Communication is ..

the sending, giving, or exchanging of information and ideas from one person to another. Not just What do I want? but Why do I want it? What do you see?

PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org

Types Of Communication

Verbal Talking

Non-Verbal Facial Gestures Body language Appearance

PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org

What is your communication style?

Passive Passive-Aggressive Aggressive Assertive Verbal Non-Verbal Emotional Cognitive How do people react to your style?
7

PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

Knowledge (what to, why to)

Habits
Skills (how to) Desire (want to)

PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org

Positive Communication
9

Inviting
Helps open the door to students examining and understanding the painful feelings behind their ineffective behavior. Builds positive views of others. Promotes problem solving Individuals manage emotions

PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org

Active Listening
Learn how to really listen. Teachers have to be active listeners. Active listening includes: Staying focused on what is being said. Empathize and try to remain calm during conversation. Encourage your students to really say what is on his mind.

PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org

10

Questions phrased as statement.

11

The student can answer, give a nonverbal response, or just listen.

Looks like youre having a tough day. Little things can feel like big things when theres something on your mind. Students can get upset at school when theyre worried about something at home. (question by displacement)

PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org

11

Constructive Questioning..
12

Cant be answered yes/no Begin with words like How and Can Encourage the student to respond not just to the question but also to the communication process Require us to be able to tolerate and listen to the students negative feelings
How can I be helpful right now? Can you tell me what happened to make you so upset?

PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org

12

Constructive Encouragement
13

Seek First to Understand, then to be Understood Focuses on effort and/or strategies (process) rather than on ability or product Effort example: Wow, Tony, youve really made improvements on your behavior chart this week! I can tell how hard youve been trying to get to class on time! Nonexample: Tony, your behavior chart finally looks respectable! See, you can do it! If youd only try like this all the time . . .

PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org

13

Constructive Encouragement
14

Uses phrases such as you are working on and you are learning to Doesnt deny the reality that the students present performance leaves much to be desired Doesnt reinforce feelings of inadequacy by reminding the student of how well he/she could do if the student just tried Validates steps the student is taking NOW to master a task and thus helps the student see the connection between effort and positive outcomes

PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org

14

15

The secret component in constructive encouragement

Persuasion = trying to talk the student into displaying a desired behavior Example: You should be doing your work instead of acting up like this! Attribution = communicating that the student is already displaying the desired behavior or is trying to do so Example: I can see youre making a real effort to get your work in on time! Promoting Positive Behaviors Through Attribution (ESI, 1999)
PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org

15

Summary: Positive Communication

Make eye contact. Eliminate distractions. Listen with a closed mouth. Let your student know they have been heard. Keep conversations brief. Ask the right questions. Express your own feelings. Admit it when you dont know something.

PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org

16

Tips for Teachers to help open lines of communication

Communication Builders

Id like to hear more about it. Tell me more about that. I understand. What do you think about Would you like to talk about it? Thats interesting. Im interested. Explain that to me.

PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org

17

Negative Communication

Interrogating Reminds students that adults are unhelpful and critical. Reinforces negative views of others. Emotionally reactive

PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org

18

Destructive questioning.
19

Can be answered yes or no Begin with words like Are, Have, and Do
Are you roaming the halls again? Have you been bothering Samantha? Do you want to go back to the suspension room?

Close off adult-student communication Reflect our own negative feelings about our inability to help

PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org

19

Negative Communication
20

Questions that cant be answered in terms of the students self-understanding or in a way that preserves self-esteem Begin with words like What, Didnt, and Why
What in the world is the matter with you today? Why are you acting like that? Didnt I tell you not to . . .? What do I have to do to get you to . . .

PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org

20

Negative Communication
21

Stay away from. The Yes-But Speech The You-Can-Do-It Speech The Just-Do-Your-Best Speech

PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org

21

How to Avoid Negative Communication

Always start with the end in mind Understand your motivation Reprimands negatively impact compliance Nagging & lecturing Interrupting Criticizing Dwelling on the past Using Sarcasm & Threats Putting down Lying Denying feelings

PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org

22

Communicating During Conflicts

Stay in control of your emotions Work on one problem at a time. Look for creative ways to solve problems. Be polite. Use I messages. Be willing to forgive. Devise a future plan & debrief student and class

PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org

23

Conclusion

Communication is sending information from one person to another. Communication can be verbal or non-verbal. Communication can be positive or negative, effective or ineffective. Practice communicating during conflicts. Practice communication builders.

PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org

24

Resources/References

http://trainingpd.suite101.com/article.cfm/commu nication_styles http://matrix.scranton.edu/humanresources/com munication-styles-handout-leadership.pdf www.natalierathvon.com

PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org

25

Questions?

PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org

26